title: Randomized controlled trial of computerized cognitive behavioural therapy for depressive symptoms: effectiveness and costs of a workplace intervention.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Depression and anxiety are major causes of absence from work and underperformance in the workplace. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can be effective in treating such problems and online versions offer many practical advantages. The aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness of a computerized CBT intervention (MoodGYM) in a workplace context.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was a phase III two-arm, parallel randomized controlled trial whose main outcome was total score on the Work and Social Adjustment Scale (WSAS). Depression, anxiety, psychological functioning, costs and acceptability of the online process were also measured. Most data were collected online for 637 participants at baseline, 359 at 6 weeks marking the end of the intervention and 251 participants at 12 weeks post-baseline.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both experimental and control groups depression scores improved over 6 weeks but attrition was high. There was no evidence for a difference in the average treatment effect of MoodGYM on the WSAS, nor for a difference in any of the secondary outcomes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study found no evidence that MoodGYM was superior to informational websites in terms of psychological outcomes or service use, although improvement to subthreshold levels of depression was seen in nearly half the patients in both groups.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.affiliation: Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Molosankwe
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leese
authors.affiliation: University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: P Sarrami
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Foroushani
authors.affiliation: Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Grime
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: McCrone
authors.affiliation: Institute of Mental Health, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Morriss
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thornicroft
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003863:Depression / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D017132:Workplace / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology